THIS 18k GOLD coiled snake ring, assayed in Chester in 1918, was made in a moment of profound transition. By then, Chester was producing jewelry that echoed Edwardian and late Victorian tastes, but often in simpler, symbolic forms—a reflection of wartime austerity and shifting social norms. The Great War had drawn many craftsmen into service, and jewelry production slowed. Surviving pieces from this period were likely made by fewer hands, sometimes using recycled gold. The snake, a popular motif throughout the 19th century, carried enduring meanings of eternal love, protection, and renewal—fitting for a year shaped by both grief and relief at the end of war.
MATERIALS: 18k gold (marked)
AGE: Chester assay marks for 1918
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 10, can be resized; 1/2" head, 3/8" shank